Rural Heartland Hit Again

Rural Heartland Hit Again

Rural contractors throughout New Zealand are appalled at the recommendations of the Commerce Commission regarding broadband and telephone charges. The proposals would see urban customers pay less while rural customers pay a lot more.

Rural & Associated Contractors Federation Executive Director Roger Parton says that the proposals defy logic. “Here we have the vast number of customers getting a significant savings while at the same time, a small percentage are being hit with substantial increases”

Mr Parton said that over the years, rural New Zealand has seen social dislocation with closure of Post Offices, hospitals, schools to name but a few. Now the most important service of telecommunications is going to significantly increase in price without any increase in service.

“Broadband is a case in point where high speed broadband is simply not available to many in the rural community, yet the price is going to increase”, he said. “Without high speed broadband, those in the rural community simply cannot benefit from the internet and the benefits of computer communication and services”.

Mr Parton said that at the Rural Contractors Conference on Sunday 29 July, the Minister of Agriculture Jim Anderson reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to the rural heartland and the vital role it plays in the country’s economy. Yet in the next breath, the Commerce Commission recommends that the rural community be financially penalised through their telecommunication costs.

“Rural Contractors service the rural community and we support Federated Farmers in their opposition to this proposal which contradicts the Governments support for the rural heartland,” Mr Parton said. “One would hope that this matter will be resolved and some common sense returned to the proposed pricing structure within the next few weeks”

ENDS

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